Disclaimer: I do not own Gakuen Alice

Guessing Game

Chapter 01: Mixed Up

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You have been chosen for the interview. Please report to the Evergreen office this Wednesday at exactly 10 o'clock in the morning for further instructions concerning the matter. Thank you.

Sincerely Yours,

Ned Keller

Evergreen Business Director

Mikan almost spit out her $5 mocha latte as her sparkling hazelnut eyes examined the piece of parchment for the second time. There was no doubt about it. Her eyes weren't playing a trick on her! She was chosen! Out of the almost thousands of people who applied, she was the one who was chosen! Mikan gripped on her armrest tighter grinning to herself like a madman in silent celebration. It surprised her. That out of all the applicants, she was chosen. As far as she knew she was the youngest and most inexperienced person who had applied for the spot.

Sakura Mikan, was a 19 year-old jack of all trades master of none. She had long brown hair that was tied into one single pony tail and sparkling hazelnut eyes. She had been single for most of her life and her grades weren't exactly what you'd call amazing. And, Mikan was fresh from college having graduated just two months ago. She initially thought she would have had trouble in applying for a job. But now that she has already been accepted for an interview, there was almost 0 chance of her being turned down. She was that confident.

Slamming a few bills on the table she stood up and slipped into her coat, stuffing the interview letter in one of its pockets. Reaching back down, she retrieved her half-empty cup of coffee, a doggie bag with a piece of bagel sticking out with her other hand and proceeded to walk out the door.

The fall afternoon breeze was nice and cool. The now orange leaves from the once green trees were messily scattered on the ground while the others enjoyed aerial travel. Mikan smiled to her self as she kicked the fallen leaves around, stopping once to throw away her empty coffee cup in a nearby trash bin.

It was amazing that her 'after-college' life had turned out so… so like this. She had expected that a student like her would get a hard time trying to get a job. After all getting grades sometimes lower than 80 wasn't exactly what you'd call impressive. She believed a person like her had no place in such a big company. It amazed her how much 'luck' had affected her 'after-college' life (or just life). But then maybe it wasn't luck. Maybe.

"Ah well," She whispered to herself happily as she quickened her pace. "Wait till Hotaru hears about this!"

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A middle aged old man walked through the crammed hallway, stopping to deposit his hundred dollar coat on one of his assistant's desk. With a few mumbled coherent words and a snap of his fingers, the old man disappeared behind his office's glass doors. The assistant blinked a few times before standing up, snatching two file folders from his desk drawer and running briskly after his boss.

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"Hello?" Mikan's voice echoed through her apartment's empty hallway. Slipping off her green coat, she dumped it onto the nearby chair and called out again, "Hotaru-chan! I'm hoommeee!!" She announced happily, looking around.

Violet eyes snapped open as the owner gave a small quiet yawn. So Mikan was finally home. She was the only person capable of making that much of a noise to wake her up after all. Hotaru blinked as she sat up averting her bored gaze to her friend's excited face.

They stared at each other in silence for a while before Mikan excitedly spoke up.

"They called me for an interview!"

Hotaru let a small smile creep to her lips. Mikan actually managed to do something by herself this time. She gave her best friend a pat on the head.

"You're finally bringing in money into this household."

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The old man raised a questioning brow at his assistant who flinched. The assistant swallowed, feeling the familiar sensation in the pit of his stomach that what was going to happen was something that he would not pay to remember for the rest of his life.

"Keller…"

"Y-yes sir?" Keller stammered, unable to control his fear. He squeezed his eyes shut and waited for the worst. It seemed like eternity had passed before his boss spoke again.

"This is good…"

Keller almost fell from his position, "S-sir?" He stammered again, wondering what the hell his boss had eaten this morning for him to actually praise him.

"I said this is good Keller," He repeated glaring at his underling. He did not enjoy repeating himself. "You chose well,"

Keller gave him a small smile. He felt like dancing. This was the first official praise he had gotten from his boss since he stepped into this office five years ago! Finally his efforts were being appreciated. Finally his boss thought of him as somebody who is good. Finally! Finally—

"Only one thing Keller…" His boss' cold, angry tone of voice came cutting right through his mental celebration like a saw. Having intensified his glare, he threw the two file folders carelessly back to his desk, "Why in the seven hells did you choose two applicants?"

Keller felt like jumping off a building.

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Crimson-eyes widened slightly as a small brown envelope was dropped on his desk table. Eyes narrowing, he picked up the envelope, throwing one glare at the person looming before him with that stupid smile plastered on his face, he studied its contents.

He frowned.

"What the hell is this Kokoroyomi?" He growled.

The person known as Kokoroyomi just shrugged and smiled, "It's a direct order from your father. You, Natsume, are to find a job. And…" He snatched the brown envelope from his short-tempered master. "I took the liberty of signing you up for one."

Natsume glared at Kokoroyomi, hoping the meddling pig would somehow disappear if he glared hard enough.

Sensing Natsume's deadly aura, his smile remained unchanged on his face (it had actually grown wider) as he spoke again, "Tomorrow, you'll show up at the Evergreen Company's lobby for your job interview,"

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"I am only asking you this one more time Keller," The boss' strong voice boomed out of his voice box.

"Why in the seven hells did you choose two applicants?"

Keller panicked and racked his brain for something, anything to say. And alas, he found none.

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Somewhere else in the same building, a guy in a blue shirt fell back into his chair, wiping a few beads of sweat from his forehead with the back of his hand. He raised an eyebrow when he saw his office mate's head poking from behind the divider.

"Finished with your work?" She asked.

The man in blue gave her a two-fingered salute, "Delivered the letters,"

"Letters? Didn't Ned tell you to deliver the letter in the blue envelope only?"

The man shrugged and scratched the back of his neck, "Oops,"

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"I got the job Hotaru!" Mikan squealed in delight, lunging at her best friend for a hug. Hotaru, who sensed what was coming, moved an inch away from Mikan's landing space. Mikan's face hit the sofa's base. "Hotaru!! Can't you just let me give you one hug? I mean! I got into a company!"

Hotaru shrugged.

"Awwww fine!" Mikan exclaimed in frustration as she crossed her arms. "And I thought you'd be at least happy I'd finally have gotten a job… interview. I guess I thought wrong…" She finished flatly and proceeded to bury her face into the throw pillow next to her.

Hotaru rolled her eyes.

"I am happy for you,"

Almost immediately (like Hotaru had predicted) Mikan's head rose from the pillow and had inched closer to her friend, her eyes sparkling like mad. "Really???"

Hotaru paid no heed to her best friends over excited self. Instead she turned away and asked, "Which company is it anyway?"

"Evergreen!" Mikan answered proudly.

Hotaru's eyes twinkled in return as she smirked.

"Finally, some decent sum of money."

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"So you're saying my father friggin' ordered you to order me to get a job?" Natsume gritted out every word as calmly as possible. He didn't want to pummel the hell out of Kokoroyomi just yet he needed more information. He needed the money after all. His stupid father cut half of his monthly allowance. But then it would probably be a stupid boring office job and that would suck like hell. So no. He still had his other half after all.

"Yep," Kokoroyomi answered casually.

"I ain't going,"

"You have no choice. If you don't go, your father would stop giving you your allowance all together,"

Natsume cursed under his breath.

"Damn it."

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"We're going to have two people coming here tomorrow thinking they're most likely going to be employed." Keller's boss spoke in a gruff voice, obviously irritated. "And what kind of situation do you foresee Mr. Keller?"

Keller gulped, "A troublesome situation?"

End.

A/N: Gasp! My first attempt on a GA AU fic! Like it? Hate it? I need suggestions and comments (in the form of a review of course!) :P

Next is Natsume and Mikan's first meeting! Till the next!